Padukone’s anger over cleavage tweet

Bollywood stars have joined hundreds expressing outrage after a top Indian newspaper published a photo and report on actress Deepika Padukone ’s cleavage. On Sunday the Times of India tweeted a photo taken last year with a link to a web photo gallery and caption: “OMG: Deepika Padukone ’s cleavage show”.

An angry Padukone responded on Twitter: “YES! I am a Woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!??”

The daily later put out a tweet urging her to consider it a compliment. The newspaper has since removed the original tweet about Padukone’s dress, which she wore to a film launch last year.

“Supposedly India’s ‘LEADING’ newspaper and this is ‘NEWS’!!??,” Padukone wrote on her Twitter account on Sunday. “Don’t talk about Woman’s Empowerment when YOU don’t know how to RESPECT Women!” she added.

Several Bollywood celebrities and hundreds of fans have come out in support of the actress and #IStandWithDeepikaPadukone was the top trend on Twitter in India on Monday.

“Appalled….shocked and disgusted at the level of disrespect shown. Deepika or any women in the world cannot and should not stand for this!!” tweeted producer, director Karan Johar. “I just read… about @deepikapadukone retort to cheap sensational journalism, well done girl,” actor Arjun Rampal wrote on Twitter.

Following criticism, the Times of India tweeted to the actress that the report was meant to be a “compliment”: “You look so great that we want to make sure everyone knew! :)” The newspapers defence, however, failed to placate many and actress Nimrat Kaur tweeted: “Dear @TOIEntertain… with this ‘compliment’, I shudder to think who this ‘everyone’ is you’re reaching out to?”